Sealable antenna housing

• US 6,773,018 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxrad Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomez, Francisco X.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kyle, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/990,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20030094770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 277/630, 277/637, 277/641, 277/644, 277/650, 277/642, 277/616, 277/626, 277/628, 343/872, 343/713, 343/725
• US Class Current: 277/628
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/025 and with at least one flexible lip
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome

Abstract

A watertight antenna assembly adapted for mounting on a mounting surface includes a sealing gasket having a body portion and a peripheral edge, and a continuous sidewall formed with the peripheral edge. A radome is releasably mounted to the sealing gasket forming a cavity therebetween. The sealing gasket includes a sealing projection that extends continuously along an inside portion of the sidewall and is configured to abut the radome to form a seal. A downwardly depending lip is formed of deformable material and extending continuously along a bottom portion of the sidewall. When the sealing gasket is compressed against the mounting surface, the lip sealingly deforms against the mounting surface forming a watertight seal therebetween so as to prevent ingress of water into the cavity.

Claims

1. A sealing gasket for sealing an enclosure assembly, the enclosure assembly adapted for mounting on a mounting surface, the sealing gasket comprising:

a substantially planar body portion having a continuous sidewall;

a lip formed of deformable material depending downwardly from a bottom portion of the sidewall;

a sealing projection extending continuously along an inside portion of the sidewall;

the sealing projection configured to sealingly abut a corresponding peripheral edge of a covering portion, the covering portion and the body portion defining a chamber;

a plurality of apertures disposed in the body portion, each aperture configured to sealingly receive a fastener such that a watertight seal is formed between the sealing projection and the covering portion when the fasteners compress the covering portion against the sealing gasket; and

wherein when the lip is compressed against the mounting surface the lip sealingly deforms forming a watertight seal with the mounting surface so as to prevent ingress of water into the chamber.

2. A watertight assembly for housing components, the assembly adapted for mounting on a mounting surface, the assembly comprising:

a sealing gasket having a surface portion defined by a peripheral edge, and a side wall extending continuous about the peripheral edge;

a radome releasably mounted to the sealing gasket forming a cavity therebetween, the cavity adapted to house the components;

the sealing gasket having a sealing projection extending continuously along an inside portion of the sidewall, the sealing projection configured to sealingly abut a perimeter edge of the radome;

a plurality of fastener apertures disposed in the surface portion, each fastener aperture configured to sealingly receive a fastener, the fasteners configured to compress the radome against the sealing projection to form a watertight seal therebetween;

the sealing gasket having a downwardly depending lip formed of deformable material extending continuously along a bottom portion of the sidewall;

a baseplate disposed within the cavity and having a shaft portion fixedly attached thereto, the baseplate configured to receive the components thereon;

the shaft portion aligningly received through an installation orifice in the sealing gasket and received through the mounting surface; and

wherein application of downward force on the shaft portion compresses the sealing gasket against the mounting surface to sealingly deform the lip against the mounting surface so as to form a watertight seal to prevent ingress of water into the cavity.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the shaft portion-includes a threaded portion configured to receive a nut such that tightening of the nut creates the downward force so as to form a seal between the sealing gasket and the mounting surface.

4. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the shaft portion is integrally formed with the base plate.

5. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein a peripheral edge of the baseplate is contiguous with the peripheral edge of the sealing gasket such that downward force applied to the baseplate causes the lip to sealing deform against the mounting surface.

6. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the baseplate includes a plurality of throughbores in alignment with the fastener apertures for receiving the fasteners therethrough.

7. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the baseplate includes a radial lip outwardly extending from a peripheral edge of the baseplate.

8. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing gasket further includes a sleeve contiguously formed with an inside peripheral edge of the fastener aperture, the sleeve extending upwardly for a predetermined distance forming an interference fit with the fastener.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 wherein the sleeve is integrally formed with the inside peripheral edge of the aperture.

10. The assembly according to claim 8 wherein the sleeve prevents water from entering the cavity through the fastener apertures.

11. The assembly according to claim 8 wherein the baseplate includes a plurality of throughbores in alignment with the sleeves, each throughbore including a recessed portion terminating in a shoulder such that an upper annular surface of the sleeve contacts the shoulder so as to form a watertight seal between the sleeve and the baseplate.

12. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the lip is integrally formed with the sealing gasket.

13. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing gasket is formed in a one piece injection molded process.

14. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing gasket is formed from a combination of rubber and polyurethane.

15. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing gasket is formed from material selected from the group consisting of rubber, natural rubber, polyurethane and thermoplastic elastomer.

16. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing gasket is formed from material having a durometer of between 60 Shore A and 74 Shore D.

17. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing projection is a shoulder formed between the surface portion and the sidewall.

18. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing projection is a shoulder formed continuously along the peripheral edge of the surface portion.

19. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing projection is a shoulder formed continuously along an intersection defined by the sidewall and the peripheral edge of the surface portion.

20. The assembly according to claim 17 wherein the perimeter edge of the radome abuts the shoulder to form a watertight seal therebetween.

21. The assembly according to claim 17 wherein the fasteners compress the perimeter edge of the radome against the shoulder to form a watertight seal.

22. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing projection is a tongue that extends inwardly from a portion of the sidewall forming a circumferential groove between the tongue and the surface portion of the sealing gasket.

23. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sealing projection is a tongue that extends inwardly from a portion of the sidewall forming a circumferential groove between the tongue and the surface portion of the sealing gasket, and wherein the baseplate includes a radial lip outwardly extending from a peripheral edge of the baseplate.

24. The assembly according to claim 23 wherein the circumferential groove receives the radial lip of the baseplate.

25. The assembly according to claim 24 wherein the circumferential groove receives the radial lip continuously along the peripheral edge of the surface portion.

26. The assembly according to claim 23 wherein the tongue is sandwiched between the radial lip of the baseplate and the perimeter edge of the radome.

27. The assembly according to claim 23 wherein the fasteners compress the tongue between the radial lip of the base plate and the perimeter edge of the radome to form a watertight seal between the radome and the sealing gasket.

28. The assembly according to claim 27 wherein the compression of the tongue between the radial lip and the perimeter edge of the radome further urges the inside portion of the sidewall against an outside surface portion of the radome.